Toxicological and Histopathological Screening of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts Used
as Protectants Against Insect Infestation

Philip-Attah, Tejumade; Omotoso, Olumuyiwa Temitope; Alese, Margaret Olutayo; Obembe, Olusola Michael

doi:10.61882/rabms.11.3.235

Volume 11, Issue 3 (8-2025) Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences 2025, 11(3): 235-243 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.61882/rabms.11.3.235

Ethics code: ORD/EKSU/EAC/24/197

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Philip-Attah T, Omotoso O T, Alese M O, Obembe O M. Toxicological and Histopathological Screening of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts Used as Protectants Against Insect Infestation. Journal of Research in Applied and Basic Medical Sciences 2025; 11 (3) :235-243
URL: http://ijrabms.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-404-en.html

Toxicological and Histopathological Screening of Some Medicinal Plant Extracts Used as Protectants Against Insect Infestation

Tejumade Philip-Attah ^*

, Olumuyiwa Temitope Omotoso

, Margaret Olutayo Alese

, Olusola Michael Obembe

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria , tejumadephilipattah@gmail.com

Abstract: (132 Views)

Background The use of medicinal plants as alternatives to synthetic chemicals in combating stored product pests is gaining more attention. Plants are known for their medicinal and insecticidal properties; however, the safety of these plants for humans needs further investigation. The toxicities of ethanol extracts of Uvaria chamae root bark, Mallotus oppositifolius leaf, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon leaf, Jatropha multifida stem bark, and Anthocleista djalonensis stem bark were studied in BALB/c mice.
Methods Healthy female mice were randomly divided into 11 groups with three mice in each group (n = 3). The extracts were administered to the experimental mice at dosages of 300 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg only. The control group received the vehicle orally, while the test groups were administered either 300 mg/kg or 2000 mg/kg of the extracts as single doses for 14 days. Under ether anaesthesia, blood samples were collected for liver and kidney function tests, while liver and kidney biopsies were prepared for pathological screening using the H & E technique.
Results Organs of test animals subjected to gross necropsy examination were devoid of gross pathology. The mice’s body weights remained consistent throughout the experiment, indicating no significant increase (p > 0.05) as the actual weight change was minimal relative to the control group. At 300 and 2000 mg/kg, a regular histoarchitecture of the renal tissues was observed across all study groups relative to the control group. The actual numerical trend for the biochemical parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, urea, and creatinine, remained within the normal range of mouse biochemistry and did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) across all groups.
Conclusion This study thus provided some preliminary justifications for using the plants at the tested dose levels (not above 2000 mg/kg of treatment), recommending them as safe for use as stored product protectants.

Keywords: Acute toxicity, Anthocleista djalonensis, BALB/c mice, Histopathology, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Uvaria chamae

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Type of Study: orginal article | Subject: General

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